Sixty thousand Americans will develop Parkinson's Disease in 2008.

Some of them in western and central North Dakota.

For those people, there is a group dedicated to getting the latest information on the disease to them...and helping them through the disease.

Perry Olson has more on the Parkinson's Support Group in today's Eye on Health.

(Perry Olson - KX News) April is Parkinson's Awareness Month celebrated recently by a group with a goal of helping some of the one point five millon Americans who have the disease.

(Eilene Emly - Parkinson's Support Group) "We try to help other people become aware of Parkinson's. It is growning and there is no cure yet, but we always have hope that there will be one day."


Parkinson's Disease causes loss of dopamine in the brain that is the chemical that helps send messages through the nervous system controling movement. It usually develops in people after age 60, but 15 percent are striken with it before then. This group meets once a month, bringing in speakers and creating an environment for learning.

"You didn't have to worry if you shaked or had to take pills because your neighbor did the same thing. So it is people helping others understand and know what is happening and being able to share what they have found helpful."


This year another one hundred North Dakotans will get the diagnosis of Parkinson's...meaning, unfornately, this group looks to be growing...but with the growth comes added knowledge.

"There are lots of helpful hints that might help walking or foot movement."


With your Eye on Health, Perry Olson, KX News. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list